Storm, Hawks boys clash in all-1-5A title matchup

The runaway 18-wheeler that is District 1-5A boys basketball has returned for another thundering finish.

With something of a catch.

For a decade, starting with Rio Rancho in 2016, the teams from 1-5A have been trading off winning state championships.

Cleveland won a title in 2021. Atrisco Heritage took state in 2019 when it belonged to 1-5A. And of course there’s Volcano Vista, which has five blue trophies since 2017 including the last four in a row.

What none of those seasons produced was an all-1-5A state final.

That can be updated, as No. 1 Volcano Vista (25-5) and No. 2 Cleveland (26-6) will square off at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Pit in the 2025-26 finale.

In the large division, only two schools — Volcano and Hobbs (1999-2002) — have won four straight titles. The Hawks can separate from the Eagles if they bag another one Saturday night.

“It’s been a tough journey from the start of the year until now,” said Volcano’s standout junior guard, David Lunn.

This is meeting number six this season between the teams. Volcano has wins in the last two; the Storm defeated the Hawks in January’s metro final.

“I said coming into the season, everything is Volcano’s until somebody beats them,” said Cleveland coach Zack Cole. This is Cole’s second trip to the final; he coached Santa Fe against Atrisco in the 2019 title game.

The stars in this game are Lunn and Storm senior guard Remy Albrecht, two guys who could easily carry their team by themselves, but both are loaded with weapons. For the Hawks, Finley Fitak, Luis Gonzales and rebounding master Eli Covell, among others. For Cleveland, Ajay Vigil, Brycen Bowie and Noah Valler, among others.

Cleveland already has had two close scrapes this week, with Carlsbad missing a short jumper at the buzzer that would have eliminated the Storm, and then edging Sandia in overtime in the semifinals on Thursday night.

The 5A boys will be the seventh and final championship staged Saturday at the Pit. Action begins at 8 a.m. with the 2A boys final.

In the middle of the day, there is the 5A girls, at 2 p.m., pitting No. 1 Hobbs (28-2) against No. 3 Rio Rancho (27-4).

The Eagles experienced healthy roster turnover after last season, but are back in the championship game. Except for 2024, Hobbs has been in the final game every season since 2018. And this is a largely young lineup; only two seniors play huge minutes on this team.

Contrast that with Rio Rancho, making its title game debut. The Rams have had a handful of championship-caliber teams in 30 years, but they finally broke through into their first final.

Two of the state’s outstanding guards will be on display: Kacelynn Muniez of Hobbs, a magnificent 3-point specialist, and Madi Martinez of Rio Rancho, who is a skilled shooter but has the added dimension of being a fantastic finisher around the basket.

Lori Mabrey is looking to join a very small group. The Rio Rancho coach already has a championship with Cibola in 2015, and can join a list of coaches with titles at multiple schools. Hobbs coach Joe Carpenter is one of the people already on that list, having coached Roswell to a title in 2016.

Mabrey, when asked what wisdom she’d impart to her team, said: “Not make the moment bigger than it is.”

The 5A girls are followed Saturday at 4 p.m. by No. 1 Highland (26-4) and No. 2 Artesia (25-5) in the boys 4A final. This is a rematch of last year’s title game, won by the Bulldogs.

Artesia, big and experienced (returning all their key players) and almost obscenely athletic as a group, has been tremendous in these playoffs, having won their three games by an average of 40 points.

“It’s by far the biggest challenge of our season,” Highland coach Justin Woody said. “We’re excited for it. They’re a great team, but that’s the thing about these guys. They’re up for the challenge.”

The final could be a thrilling, up-and-down affair, since Highland has averaged 80 points in its three playoff victories. The Hornets have an excellent stable of guards, led by Nico Sanchez, Juan Limas and Fedi Nuñez. That trio combines to average 45 points a game.

Highland is unbeaten against 4A competition this year. Three of its four losses came to 5A programs, and the Hornets also lost to 3A St. Michael’s.

Speaking of the Horsemen, 3A’s top seed is back in the last game after beating Santa Fe Indian on Friday in the semifinals. St. Mike’s (25-5), a year after losing to rival Robertson (20-12) in the championship game, is opposite the Cardinals again at noon Saturday.

They split two district contests. Robertson this year is a 10-seed, and the Cardinals had to come from way back in the fourth quarter Friday to beat Bosque School in overtime in the semifinals.

The 2A boys get the day started Saturday, at 8 a.m.

No. 1 seed and defending champion Texico (29-2) faces No. 6 Rehoboth Christian. The Lynx (24-6) upset No. 2 Pecos in Friday’s semis.

Led by junior guard Jett Curtis, the Wolverines have won 18 straight games over the last two months.

The boys 1A final is the penultimate game of the season, at 6 p.m., between the top-seeded, defending champion Logan Longhorns (27-4) and No. 2 seed, the co-op between Fort Sumner and House (25-5).

This could prove to be the best game of the day. These two are district partners, and split four games this season. All four games were decided by five or fewer points, and the last two meetings went to overtime.

The 1A girls is the 10 a.m. matchup Saturday, with No. 1 Logan (26-4) taking on No. 3 Roy/Mosquero (26-3). Two of the Lady Blue’s losses came to Logan, both in December.